President Bola Tinubu has vowed not to allow individuals with selfish political agenda to destroy Nigeria under any guise.
The president expressed deep concern over the nationwide hunger protests, which have resulted in the loss of life and property in various parts of the country.
In a nationwide broadcast this morning, Tinubu acknowledged the protesters’ grievances and called for the immediate suspension of further demonstrations.
He particularly noted that many of the protesters were young Nigerians aspiring for a better and more progressive nation.
The president lamented the loss of lives in states such as Borno, Jigawa, Kano, and Kaduna, as well as the destruction of public facilities and looting of businesses.
He emphasised that such destruction sets the nation back, as scarce resources will now be diverted to restoration efforts.
However, the president also stressed the need for public order and the protection of life and property.
Tinubu called on protesters and organisers to suspend further demonstrations to create room for dialogue, which he claimed to have always been open to saying, “I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens.”
Tinubu directly addressed the protesters, stating, “As president of this country, I must ensure public order. In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.
“Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity.
“Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all – regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation.
“To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build.
“Our democracy progresses when the constitutional rights of every Nigerian are respected and protected. Our law enforcement agencies should continue to ensure the full protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens in a responsible manner.
“My vision for our country is one of a just and prosperous nation where each person may enjoy the peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihood that only democratic good governance can provide – one that is open, transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people.
In the address, Tinubu outlined various economic measures and initiatives his administration has undertaken in the past 14 months.
These include efforts to increase government revenues, reduce debt service, clear foreign exchange obligations, and invest in major infrastructure projects.
He said, “For decades, our economy has remained anaemic and taken a dip because of many misalignments that have stunted our growth.
“Just over a year ago, our dear country, Nigeria, reached a point where we couldn’t afford to continue the use of temporary solutions to solve long-term problems for the sake of now and our unborn generations.
“I therefore took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.
“These actions blocked the greed and the profits that smugglers and rent-seekers made. They also blocked the undue subsidies we had extended to our neighbouring countries to the detriment of our people, rendering our economy prostrate.
“These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve us well. Yes, I agree, the buck stops on my table. But I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering the governance to the people – good governance for that matter.
“In the past 14 months, our government has made significant strides in rebuilding the foundation of our economy to carry us into a future of plenty and abundance.
“On the fiscal side, aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over 9.1 trillion Naira in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 due to our efforts at blocking leakages, introducing automation, and mobilising funding creatively without additional burden on the people.
“Productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience
“My dear brothers and sisters, we have come this far. Coming from a place where our country spent 97% of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68% in the last 13 months.
“We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5billion without any adverse impact on our programmes.
“This has given us more financial freedom and the room to spend more money on you, our citizens, to fund essential social services like education and healthcare.
“It has also led to our State, and Local Governments receiving the highest allocations ever in our country’s history from the Federation Account.
Tinubu highlighted several economic achievements of his 14-month-old administration, including: Doubling of government revenues to over N9.1 trillion in the first half of 2024, reduction of debt service from 97% to 68% of revenue, clearance of $5 billion in foreign exchange obligations.
“Increase in oil production to 1.61 million barrels per day and launch of major infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway,” he said.
Tinubu also outlined initiatives aimed at addressing citizens’ concerns, such as:
The Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative to reduce transportation costs.
“A student loan scheme with N45.6 billion processed for payment, establishment of a Consumer Credit Corporation with over N200 billion in funding, various youth empowerment programmes, including the Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE) programme.
“Distribution of grants to nano-businesses and loans to small and medium enterprises, signing of a new National Minimum Wage law, raising the lowest wage to N70,000 per month.
“Ambitious housing projects across the country and removal of tariffs and import duties on essential food items and medical supplies for six months,” he said.
Tinubu urged Nigerians, especially the youth, to choose hope over fear and unity over division.
He emphasised that his administration is working hard to improve the lives of all citizens and called for patience as the effects of these policies become visible.
The president instructed security operatives to maintain peace while respecting human rights and reaffirmed his commitment to the safety and security of all Nigerians.
He warned against attempts to derail democracy and called on security operatives to maintain peace while respecting human rights.
According to him, “the task before us is a collective one, and I am leading the charge as your President. A lot of work has gone into stabilising our economy, and I must stay focused on ensuring that the benefits reach every single Nigerian as promised.
“My administration is working hard to improve and expand our national infrastructure and create more opportunities for our young people.
“Let nobody misinform and miseducate you about your country or tell you that your government does not care about you. Although there have been many dashed hopes in the past, we are in a new era of Renewed Hope.
“We are working hard for you, and the results will soon be visible and concrete for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy.
“Let us work together to build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come. Let us choose hope over fear, unity over division, and progress over stagnation. The economy is recovering; Please, don’t shut out its oxygen.
“Now that we have been enjoying democratic governance for 25 years, do not let the enemies of democracy use you to promote an unconstitutional agenda that will set us back on our democratic journey. FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!
“In conclusion, security operatives should continue to maintain peace, law, and order in our country following the necessary conventions on human rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The safety and security of all Nigerians are paramount,” he added.
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